Hair increasing tool and method for attaching the same

ABSTRACT

A hair increasing tool including two large-diameter portions on a line-member having a predetermined length with a certain distance, and tube-members which can be plastically deformed fixed to each of the near locations of the large-diameter portions. A line-member portion between the two large-diameter portions is defined as a plant-area and first false hairs are fixed to plural positions of the plant-area with predetermined interval(s). The tube-members are collapsed to be plastically deformed with the remaining hairs on the head inserted therein, thereby fixing the tube-member to the hairs. The line-member portion is placed along the surface of the head, and the line-member portion is fixed by knotting the hairs located at both sides of the line-member portion together as pinching the line-member portion at a plurality of positions. Accordingly, the hair increasing tool can be fixed to the head with sufficient strength and stability without using adhesive agent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair increasing tool for increasinghairs with using user's own hairs which remains on the head, and amethod for attaching the hair increasing tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

If a bald head tends to stand out by losing hairs from the head, ahairpiece is generally used in order to cover it. However, in the casethat the status that hairs come out is under the beginning stage, a baldportion is relatively small, or a person having a bald head feelsresistance to wear the hairpiece, there is a method to use user's ownhairs which remain on the head, so called “increasing hairs”.

For example, Patent document 1 disclosed a hair increasing tool in whichhair-thickening hairs to be configured by human natural hairs orartificial hairs are directly knotted to a single own hair on the head,and a method for attaching such hair increasing tool. Further, as amethod that a user can realize increase of hairs more than that ofPatent document 1, Patent document 2 discloses a method to fix a linemember to a user's head. In such line member, hairs are fixed to themember having many hollow rings.

Problem to be Solved

However, in the method described in Patent document 1, since thehair-thickening hairs are knotted to each of the single own hair on thehead, there is a case that camouflage of the bald portion isinsufficient or feeling of increase of hairs to satisfactory levelcannot be obtained according to the remaining condition of own hairs onthe head.

Further, there is a case that it takes a long time because manyhair-thickening hairs need to be knotted to own hairs in order to obtaincamouflage of the bald portion or feeling of increase of hairs to adesired level. Otherwise, it can be considered to increase the number ofhairs knotted to a single own hair. However, this case has a problemsuch that the knotted portions of the hair-thickening hairs become solarge that it stands out, and the hair-thickening hairs are easilyremoved because knotted strength becomes weak between thehair-thickening hairs and the own hairs.

In Patent document 2, feeling of increase of hairs can be obtained in ashort time without considering remaining condition of the own hairs suchas Patent document 1. However, there is a difficulty in the method tofix the member for increasing hairs to the head. Specifically, Patentdocument 2 discloses the method to fix by using an adhesive agent suchas an instant adhesive agent for medical use. In the case of using theadhesive agent, although fixing strength of the member for increasinghairs can be enhanced, removing work using an organic solvent isrequired for removing the member, and therefore an adverse impact touser's head skin is seriously concerned.

Accordingly, as a method to fix without using an adhesive agent, Patentdocument 3 discloses a hair increasing member and a method thereof wherea loop is placed at a predetermined position of a filament made of asynthetic resin to which hair-thickening hairs are fixed, and own hairson the head are inserted into the loop and fixed by knotting the ownhairs together. Further, Patent document 4 discloses a method to inserta plurality of own hairs into a fixing member and fix them as pinchingthe fixing tool by the own hairs.

In both Patent documents 3 and 4, while high safety can be obtainedbecause no adhesive agent is used to fix the member for increasinghairs, there is a problem that the member for increasing hairs isremoved for a short time only by fixing with using the own hairs becausethe member is exposed under severe conditions caused by movement of thehead, sebum, shampooing, brushing or the like.

Further, since the fixing member is used in Patent document 4, there isa problem such that uncomfortable feeling of the head or sticking atbrushing hairs tend to occur easily, thereby facilitating removal of themember for increasing hairs.

Patent document 1: JP H09-268414A

Patent document 2: JP H05-230705A

Patent document 3: JP H11-131313A

Patent document 4: JP H07-118907A

SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made for solving the above mentioned problemsof the related arts. The purpose thereof is to provide a hair increasingtool using user's own hairs, which can be fixed to the user's head withsufficient strength and safety without using an adhesive agent, and amethod for attaching the hair increasing tool.

In a hair increasing tool according to the present invention, twolarge-diameter portions are provided on a line-member having apredetermined length with a certain distance, thereby defining aline-member portion between said two large-diameter portions as aplant-area and defining line-member portions located outside saidlarge-diameter portions as assist-areas. And, first false hairs arefixed to a plurality of positions of said plant-area with predeterminedinterval(s), and tube-members which can be plastically deformed arefixed to the near location of said large-diameter portions on theline-member.

While said two large-diameter portions define the plant-area whichexists between said two large-diameter portions, and prevent the falsehairs from being sliding off, said large-diameter portions can beomitted and the function of said large-diameter portions can beperformed by said tube-members as well as the original function of saidtube-members.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method forattaching said hair increasing tool as mentioned above to the head.

In said method, at first, own hairs remaining on the head are insertedinto one of the tube-members, and then said tube-member is collapsed tofix said tube-member to the own hairs.

Next, the line-member portion which configures the plant-area is placedalong the surface of the head, the own hairs located at both sides ofsaid line-member portion are knotted together to fix said line-memberportion such as pinching said line-member portion by the own hairs, andsuch knotting work is performed at a plurality of positions withpredetermined distance (s).

Next, the remaining own hairs are inserted into another one of thetube-members, and then said tube-member is collapsed to fix saidtube-member to the own hairs.

And then, the assist-areas which are located outside said twotube-members are cut off.

Effect of Invention

In the hair increasing tool according to the present invention havingthe above mentioned configuration, the own hairs are inserted into thetube-members which locate at the both sides of the line-member, and thenthe tube-members are collapsed to fix the tube-members to the own hairs,thereby fixing the hair increasing tool to the head. Accordingly, astrong and safe fixing strength can be obtained.

Further, in the line-member portion (plant-area) which extends betweenthe two tube-members, the line-member is fixed to the own hairs byknotting the own hairs together at the plurality of positions with thepredetermined interval (s).

Accordingly, it can effectively prevent the hair increasing toolconfigured by the line-member from leaving upward from the head, therebyobtaining a comfortable wearing feel.

Further, in the case of using second false hairs to be combined with thefirst false hairs, a volume of increasing hairs can be increased even ifusing the hair increasing tool made of a short line member. Further, itcan provide a gradation effect that a volume of increasing hairs ischanged according to the position of the line-member in the length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view for describing a hair increasing toolaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for describing a hair increasing toolaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for describing a hair increasing toolaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for describing a method for attaching ahair increasing tool of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for exemplifying a method to plant falsehairs 20 to a plant-area 15.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hair increasing tool1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 1( a), firstly, there is provided one line-member 10 ofa predetermined length, and on which two of large-diameter portions 11,12 are provided with a certain interval. The area between two of thelarge-diameter portions 11, 12 is used as a plant-area 15, where falsehairs are to be fixed, as explained later. Further, the extended portionoutside the large-diameter portion 11 is used as an assist-area 16, andthe extended portion outside the large-diameter portion 12 is used as anassist-area 17. The assist-areas 16, 17 are portions which an operatoror user grasps when he/she attaches the hair increasing tool to the head(that is, they assist the attaching operation), and afterwards they areto be cut away.

It may be enough if diameters of the large-diameter portions 11, 12 arelarger than those of the remaining portion of the line-member 10. Forexample, for making the large-diameter portions 11, 12, the line-member10 can be simply knotted, melted resin can be set on the line-member 10,or otherwise, some separate members can be fixed to the line-member 10.

As shown in FIG. 1( b), in the plant-area 15, the false hairs 20(artificial or natural hairs) are to be fixed with predeterminedinterval(s). The interval can be appropriately determined, according tothe remaining condition of user's own hairs. For example, the intervalscan be a regular interval of 1-3 mm, or can be random intervals.

As to the specific manner for fixing the false hairs 20, it is notlimited to a particular one. For example, the false hairs 20 can beknotted (planted), welded, or adhered to the line-member 10. Someexamples for knotting the false hairs 20 will be explained later in thesecond embodiment (refer to FIG. 5).

At the “near location” of the large-diameter portions 11, 12,tube-members 18, 19 are fixed, for example, by knotting or the like withusing the line-member 10 itself. According to the illustrated preferredembodiment, the tube-members 18, 19 are located outside of thelarge-diameter portions 11, 12. This is because the tube-members 18, 19prevent the false hairs 20 fixed to the plant-area 15 from sliding out.However, the tube-members 18, 19 can be located inside thelarge-diameter portions 11, 12.

Relating to the “near location”, it is preferable that the distancebetween the large-diameter portion and the tube-member is at least thesame as, or smaller than the distance between each of the false hairs20.

The tube-members 18, 19 are used for attaching the hair increasing tool1 to user's head, for example, by collapsing the tube-members 18, 19 bya plier on the condition that the user's own hairs are inserted into thetube-members 18, 19. Relating to a material of the tube-members 18, 19,it may be enough if it can be plastically deformed and fixed on theuser's own hairs, and therefore, for example, a metallic material can beused.

Relating to an example of the tube-members 18, 19 of metal, in aJapanese Patent Publication No. 2006-63502 filed by the applicant, thereis disclosed a short metal tube of three-layered, which is shown in FIG.1( b) in enlarged scale. This short metal tube is configured such thatan “adhesive layer” is provided inside an “outer metal tube”, and a“net-material” is placed at an innermost circumferential surfacethereof. This short metal tube can be used as the tube-members 18, 19 inthe present invention. However, even if the short metal tube is notthree-layered and is single-layered, a sufficient fixing would beobtained.

The size of the tube-members 18, 19 used in the present invention can beexemplified such as 3.5 mm of outer diameter, 3.0 mm of inner diameter,and 2.5 mm of height.

It is noted that the tube-members 18, 19 and the false hairs 20 can beattached to the line-member 10 in any orders when making the hairincreasing tool 1.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE

In the first embodiment, it may be enough if the large-diameter portions11, 12 define the implant-area 15 existing located between them, preventthe false hairs 20 from sliding out, and their diameters are larger thanthat of the remaining line-member 10. Accordingly, it is possible thatthe large-diameter portions 18, 19 are omitted and the function of thelarge-diameter portions 11, 12 is performed by the tube-members 18, 19as well as the original function of the tube-members 18, 19.

<<Sizes of Each Part or the Like>>

In the hair increasing tool of the present invention, the size of eachpart (length, diameter, or the like) is not limited to a particular one,and can be determined arbitrarily depending on the user's head size, theremaining condition of user's own hairs or others.

For example, the length of the implant-area 15 can be 12 cm or 8 cm, andthe length of the assist-areas 16, 17 can be 10 cm. The line-member 10can be made of any appropriate material such as a nylon string, and thediameter thereof can, for example, be 0.1 mm.

The diameter of the first false hairs 20 (and second false hairs 30 asdescribed later) can, for example, be 0.06 mm.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 2 illustrates a hair increasing tool according to the secondembodiment of the present invention. The difference from the firstembodiment is that additional false hairs 30 are fixed to the falsehairs 20. In order to distinguish the both of the false hairs, the falsehairs 20 are hereinafter called “first false hairs 20” and the falsehairs 30 are hereinafter called “second false hairs 30”. For the firstand second false hairs, hairs of the same material can be used, orotherwise hairs of different materials can also be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each of the first false hairs 20 isfixed to the line-member (plant-area 15) in the form of a V-characterhaving two pieces 20 a, 20 b. Then a single second false hair 30 isfixed to each of the pieces 20 a, 20 b respectively.

However, regarding the volume (number) of the second hairs 30 fixed tothe first false hairs 20, it can be flexibly determined. The same numberof the second hairs 30 can be fixed to all of the first false hairs 20,or otherwise, the distribution of the second hairs 30 fixed to the firstfalse hairs 20 can be non-uniform distribution. They can be determineddepending on the remaining condition of user's own hair, requiredhairstyle or the like.

<<Form and Number of False Hairs>>

In the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, all of the first andsecond false hairs 20, 30 are shown in the form of a V-character, whichare folded at midpoint. This is intended for simplifying theillustration, and the form of the false hairs is not limited toparticular one in the present invention.

Further, as to the number of the first false hairs 20 fixed to theplant-area 15, and the number of the second false hairs 30 fixed to thefirst false hairs 20, they are not limited to particular ones in thepresent invention, and can be determined arbitrarily depending on therequired volume of the false hairs, the required hairstyle or the like.

<<Method for Fixing False Hairs>>

Relating to the method for fixing the first false hairs 20 to plant-area15, and for fixing the second false hairs 30 to the first false hairs20, it is not limited to particular one in the present invention. Thefalse hairs can be fixed, for example, by knotting (planting), weldingor adhering.

In an international patent application filed by the applicant,PCT/JP2006/318959 (WO 2007/037200), there are explained some methods forfixing false hairs such as “single planting”, “half-knot planting” andplanting, which have been publically known. For reference, FIG. 5 showsthe case that these methods for fixing false hairs are applied to thepresent invention. Since these methods are publicly known, theexplanation is only limited to illustrating the methods for fixing falsehairs in the drawing, and the detailed description is omitted.

While FIG. 5 shows the case that the first false hair 20 is fixed to theplant-area 15, the same methods can be applied in the case that thesecond false hair 30 is fixed to the second false hair 20.

Third Embodiment

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is one embodiment where the secondfalse hairs 30 are non-uniformly distributed. In this hair increasingtool 3, first false hairs 20 placed on a line-member (plant-area 15) aredivided into five areas, that is, one “few” located at the center, two“middle” at the both sides of the “few”, and two “many” at the bothsides of the “middle”.

Literally, in the “few” region, the degree of increasing hairs is thefewest, and only the first false hairs 20 are fixed therein. In the“many” region, the degree of increasing hair is the most, and four ofthe second false hairs 30 are fixed to each peace 20 a, 20 b of onefirst hair 20. In the “middle” region, the degree of increasing hair isintermediate between the “few” region and the “many” region, and two ofthe second false hairs 30 are fixed to each peace 20 a, 20 b of onefirst hair 20.

The “few”, “many”, and “middle” in this embodiment mean only a relativerelationship, regarding the degree of increasing hair. Thus, the totalamount of false hairs in each region can be flexibly changed.

Further, regarding the order (location) of the “few”, the “many”, andthe “middle” regions, it can be flexibly changed, and thus in thisinvention, the non-uniform distribution of the false hairs is notlimited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of gradation-type where the degree ofincreasing hair is varied along the length of the plant-area 15, anamount of increased hairs which matches the user's own hair well can berealized by, for example, making fewer the amount of the false hairs ata hair-parting-region, and making gradually more the amount of the falsehairs at adjacent region around the hair-parting-region.

<<Method for Attaching Hair Increasing Tool>>

Next, with referring to FIG. 4, a method for attaching the hairincreasing tool is explained.

In the upper part of Fig.4, a user's head is schematically shown fromthe above, and two lines respectively represent hair increasing tools(for simplicity, each hair increasing tool is represented by a straightline). In FIG. 4, while a remaining amount of the user's own hairs onthe head is shown being very small, there is actually many cases that acertain amount of the own hairs remains on the head. One, two or morehair increasing tools can be placed and fixed arbitrarily according tothe remaining condition of the user's own hairs.

(1)

At first, at the position as indicated by “A” in FIG. 4, adequatenumbers of the own hairs are inserted into the tube-members 18 which isone of the tube-members of the hair increasing tool, and the tube-member18 is placed near the roots of hairs. Under this condition, thetube-members 18 is collapsed by using a plier or the like, therebyachieving plastic deformation of the tube-members 18 to fix thetube-members 18 to the own hairs.

(2)

Next, the line-member portion which configures the plant-area 15 isplaced along the surface of the head, and then the own hairs X and Ywhich are located at the both sides of the line-member portion areknotted together to fix the line-member portion to the own hairs. Whilethe method of knotting is not specifically limited thereto and anymethods can be applied, one example is shown in FIG. 4. In this example,a secured fixing can be achieved by a “first knotted portion” and a“second knotted portion”.

<<First Knotted portion>>

After interposing the line member (plant area 15) between the own hair Xand the own hair Y, the own hairs X and Y which are located at the bothsides of the line member are knotted together such as knotting the shoestraps. The “first knotted portion” may also be formed by repeating thisknotting works several times.

<<Second Knotted Portion>>

After performing the “first knotting work”, the own hairs X, Y are linedup and knotted together by the knotting in a bun. The “second knottedportion” may also be formed by repeating this knotting works severaltimes.

While FIG. 4 shows such that a certain distance exists between the“first knotted portion” and the “second knotted portion”, it is only forsimplifying the illustration, and it is preferable to configure suchthat the “first knotted portion” and the “second knotted portion” arelocated closely. While FIG. 4 shows such that the own hair X or hair Yis only a single hair respectively, the own hairs X, Y can be a bundleof a plurality of hairs respectively.

The above mentioned knotting works are performs at a plurality ofpositions with predetermined interval(s) (for example, 1 cm interval),(FIG. 4 shows the knotting works at two positions). Accordingly, it caneffectively prevent the line-member from leaving upward from the surfaceof the head.

(3)

Next, at the position as indicated by “B” in Fig.4, the own hairs areinserted into the tube-member 19 which is another one of thetube-members of the hair increasing tool, thereby fixing the line-memberportion to the user's own hairs by the same procedures as those asmentioned above.

Finally, the lime-members (the assist-areas 16, 17) which are locatedoutside the both tube-members 18, 19 are cut off. If necessary, thefalse hairs or the own hairs are cut accordingly.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 2, 3 Hair Increasing Tool

10 Line-Member

11, 12 Large-diameter Portion

15 Plant-Area

16, 17 Assist-Area

18, 19 Tube-Member

20 First False Hair

30 Second False Hair

1. A hair increasing tool, wherein two large-diameter portions (11, 12)are provided on a line-member (10) having a predetermined length with acertain distance, thereby defining a line-member portion between saidtwo large-diameter portions (11, 12) as a plant-area (15) and definingline-member portions located outside said large-diameter portions asassist-areas (16, 17), and wherein a first false hairs (20) are fixed toa plurality of positions of said plant-area (15) with predeterminedinterval(s), and tube-members (18, 19) which can be plastically deformedare fixed to the near location of said large-diameter portions (11, 12)on the line-member (10).
 2. The hair increasing tool according to claim1, wherein said large-diameter portions (11, 12) are omitted and thefunction of said large-diameter portions (11, 12) is performed by saidtube-members (18, 19) as well as the original function of saidtube-members (18, 19).
 3. The hair increasing tool according to claim 1,wherein a second false hairs (30) are fixed to said first false hairs(20).
 4. The hair increasing tool according to claim 3, wherein theamount of said second hairs (30) which are respectively fixed to thefirst false hairs 20 located at the plurality of positions is set beingnon-uniform.
 5. The hair increasing tool according to claim 4, whereinsaid second false hairs (30) are fixed only to the first false hairs(20) excluding those located around a center of the plant-area (15), andwherein if the first false hairs (20) are located nearer saidlarge-diameter portions (11, 12), the amount of the second false hairs(30) fixed thereto becomes larger.
 6. A method of attaching the hairincreasing tool according claim 1, comprising steps of: insertingremaining own hairs into the tube-member (18) which is one of thetube-members, and then collapsing said tube-member (18) to fix saidtube-member (18) to the own hairs, placing said line-member portionwhich configures the plant-area 15 along the surface of the head,knotting the own hairs located at both sides of said line-member portiontogether to fix said line-member portion such as pinching saidline-member portion by the own hairs, and performing such knotting workat a plurality of positions with predetermined distance(s), insertingthe remaining own hairs into the tube-member (19) which is another oneof the tube-members, and then collapsing said tube-member (19) to fixsaid tube-member (19) to the own hairs, and cutting off the assist-areas(16, 17) which are located outside said two tube-members (18, 19).